We left Mayport Fla. for the Med. on Forrestal in ’78, every night of the crossing one of these did a flyby just to see if we were awake. The year before in ’77 one flew up the southern east coast not being detected until somewhere near Virginia. It was rare to see navy fighters loaded with live missiles on the ramp for air defense in the U S, that lasted about a week. Ahh the Cold War.

How close would they be? Almost like a fly by at an airshow? I sometime wonder if the Bear crews did it just to get a look at something they don’t get to see every day. (Aside from the recon aspect that is. You know, just for their own enjoyment of aircraft.) I myself would love to see a Bear one day. Maybe one will show up at EAA eventually like the An-124 did back in the early 90’s.